Sue Scheible is a staff reporter for The Patriot Ledger who writes a weekly column, A Good Age, about life after 50. In her blog, she shares extra anecdotes about the people she meets, readers' e-mails, videos, photos and phone messages, and ideas
...

Sue Scheible is a staff reporter for The Patriot Ledger who writes a weekly column, A Good Age, about life after 50. In her blog, she shares extra anecdotes about the people she meets, readers' e-mails, videos, photos and phone messages, and ideas for what to do in retirement or to prepare for retirement. Sometimes she just likes to share what she's doing that is fun and engaging, often in videos or photos, or my family situations. She may explore her reactions to issues of aging and pass along good information for family members and caregivers. This is also a good place to recognize some of the many dedicated people who work in the elder services and geriatric care field.

Update on an amazing woman: At age 104, Sylvia Carlson is carrying on in her usual upbeat way at Grove Manor Estates in Braintree.

I stopped in to see her Saturday afternoon and found her sitting contentedly in the lobby. Late in 2013, Carlson, a former Quincy schoolteacher and amateur photographer, moved from her family home in Quincy, where she had lived for 80 years, managing very independently well past age 100. Here is my report from last January.

She decided at age 103 that she didn't like living alone anymore and had no interest in keeping up a six-room house, so she sold the house and moved to the Grove Manor seniors community.

"I am very happy here," she said Saturday at Grove Manor. "I like the food, and everyone is very nice, and they have different programs to go to."

She said she doesn't remember people or events the way she once did, but the memories seem to come back with a a few cues. She didn't remember me at first -- it has been a couple of years since I wrote a series of stories about her and visited her half dozen times. But then a few facts about our encounters clicked in.

She said she also has developed an inherited eye disease that leaves her with blurred vision. She adapts.

Sylvia Carlson's nephew Bill Carlson, 82, and his wife, Janet, 71, of Hampton, N.H., promised she could stay in her house as long as she wanted. No one would make her move. The Carlsons and other family members took care of her finances and other matters, and two years ago they hired home care aides to come in, but Sylvia remained amazingly independent and capable, gardening, cleaning, doing creative projects. But after the medical emergency in the 2013 blizzard and other changes, she began to consider leaving.

By late fall in 2013, she felt it was time for a change. The house and yard upkeep were burdensome. Her home care aide, Marie, worked with the family on finding a new residence with meals and activities, and Sylvia was game to go.

"I won't get lonesome," she said.

Her friends including Jean and Carol Maver visit and are also impressed by how quickly Sylvia adapted and finds her way around.

She continues to be an inspiration. There must be some innate hardiness or stamina there, mentally and physically, that allow her to adapt so well to life, advanced old age, and its changes.